Report: Trump Urged Japan’s Prime Minister to Keep China Dispute from Intensifying

As tensions rose between Japan and China over comments related to Taiwan, US President Donald Trump urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not to escalate the dispute, according to a report by Reuters.

The flare-up began after Takaichi told lawmakers that a Chinese attack on Taiwan that threatened Japan’s survival could justify a military response — remarks that prompted one of the most intense diplomatic exchanges between Beijing and Tokyo in recent years.

Reuters, citing two Japanese government officials, reported that Trump conveyed during a phone call on Tuesday that he did not want to see the confrontation intensify. The conversation followed Trump’s call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a statement issued to Reuters, the White House quoted Trump as saying: “The United States’ relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally… The world is at peace. Let’s keep it that way!”

China’s foreign ministry pressed Tokyo to withdraw the remarks, while Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara maintained that Takaichi’s comments were consistent with long-standing Japanese policy and stressed that Japan continues to seek a peaceful, dialogue-driven resolution to Taiwan-related issues.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force — a claim Taiwan rejects. The dispute escalated further when a Chinese diplomat in Japan posted a threatening message about Takaichi on social media. Tokyo issued a strong protest, but Chinese state media continued its criticism, with Xinhua accusing the prime minister of “summoning Japan’s militarist demons.”